Microsoft has opened another front in its webmail war against Google with the release of a new tool designed to automate the migration process for Gmail users who want to switch to Outlook.com.

From Network World:

The functionality, built into Outlook.com, guides users through a step-by-step process that Microsoft describes as very easy and that transfers messages and contacts from Gmail to the Microsoft webmail service. The tool doesn't migrate calendar data.

"The structure of your inbox, including read/unread status of your emails, will be preserved. The new tool will even set up your Gmail address as a 'send-only' account so you can continue to send email from your @gmail.com address, right from Outlook.com, if you still want to," wrote Microsoft official Naoto Sunagawa in a blog post Wednesday.